Considering the rave reviews of ' 2009 album and all the arena tours that followed, it could be misconstrued that a title like would be about the trials and tribulations of blowing up. Actually, 's second album is an album without a concept -- a bit of a relief after the deathbed theme that weighed down . For , puts his personal tragedy behind him and starts anew by burying himself in electronics to make a unique sort of wistful chamber pop for the digital age. and multi-instrumentalist return to flesh out the songs, but and are more of a guiding force this time than the fuzz-folkish influence heard on . As before, the atmospheric electronics of are comparable to latter-day , but for most of sound like a glossy, adult contemporary version of . 's voice has strengthened and his silky falsetto leads the slick wash of echoey beats and spacy synths. In the best moments, have slow-tumbling, watery melodies that shimmer and swell to big tidal-wave hooks. may have been organic and fragile, but is sleek and self-assured, and the new image suits well. ~ Jason Lymangrover